It is one of the discomforts of pregnancy that is suffered more in silence, but not less important. An investigation carried out in Catalonia indicates that almost 40 percent of pregnant women suffer from urinary incontinence.
It is usually seen as something inevitable that simply happens to all pregnant women, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. It is true that the increase in the gut exerts pressure on the bladder and predisposes to involuntary loss of urine, but they should not be assumed as normal with pregnancy.
Most cases are not serious. Losses usually happen when sneezing, coughing, jumping, laughing, or just walking, but can be avoided with proper prevention from the beginning of pregnancy.
The risk factors linked to urinary incontinence in pregnancy are overweight and obesity, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, being over 35 years old, because the muscles do not have the same firmness, be primiparous, because in the first Pregnancy is when the woman's pelvic floor suffers the most and has a family history (mother or sister with urinary incontinence).
Although the losses usually disappear after childbirth, women who suffer from urinary incontinence in pregnancy are three times more likely to suffer them in the future.
It's not nice to be part of almost 40 percent of pregnant women suffering from urinary incontinence, or have a higher risk of suffering it later, because it is something that negatively affects the quality of life of women. It is advisable to try to prevent it in time by reducing risk factors.
That is, control weight gain and exercise the pelvic floor in pregnancy. There are very simple exercises to perform to exercise that part of the body so unknown to many women. Kegel exercises are specific to strengthen the hammock-shaped muscles that support the bladder, uterus and rectum, and that make up the pelvic floor.
Ideally, perform them frequently throughout pregnancy, and not only to prevent urinary incontinence, but also to have a better delivery.
